Monsta X gains confidence after second world tour

Monsta X held a press conferences prior to its two shows in Seoul this weekend. [YONHAP]

Returning from their second world arena tour since debuting in 2015, boy band Monsta X said Saturday the recent performance trip was a coming-of-age moment for the young band.

“Over the course of the world tour, I came to a realization about why I became a singer and stay in the scene. It gave me a satisfying conclusion that I made the right choice,” member Jooheon said during a news conference at Olympic Park’s handball arena in southeastern Seoul ahead of the band’s concerts here.

The two-day concerts that lasted through Sunday were an encore following their world arena tour “The Connect,” which started off in Seoul in May and took the seven-member group to a total of 20 cities in Europe, Asia and North and South America.

Following the Seoul concerts, the band will travel to Tokyo and Osaka to wrap up the world tour there.

“The world tour was an opportunity for us to grow as singers,” member Minhyuk noted. “For the first time, I found my performance onstage alluring.”

Minhyuk compared Monsta X to a tree in the course of its growth: “Compared to a tree, we had initially been a seed which has now grown into a seedling.”

“We don’t know how far we can go, but we are striving to grow steadily,” member Shownu noted. “Now the members look more relaxed and mature onstage, and even our faces look more handsome,” he said.

The recent tour also testified to the higher profile the boy band has established so far, with local fans in each overseas city singing along their Korean-language songs.

They were also well received by U.S. TV news and entertainment outlets, having appeared on a number of American TV and media programs, including the Good Day New York morning show.

“It was an accomplishment we had not expected,” Jooheon said. “I was honored by the overseas fans who greeted singers from abroad with enthusiasm.”

Member I.M expressed his desire to hold more concerts in the U.S. in a bigger arena. “Having done our performance in Los Angeles in Microsoft Theater this time, I hope we could perform at Staples Center sometime in the future.”

Upon wrapping up their second world tour, some members plan to focus on their solo careers.

Jooheon is scheduled to release his solo mixtape on Friday.

Having worked on a number of songs for TV dramas, Kihyun dreams of becoming an “emperor of soundtracks.”

Minhyuck has finished recording a single composed by Jooheon as well as filming its music video, although the date of their release has yet to be determined.’